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Saumur Blanc “L’Échelier” 2021 Domaine des Roches Neuves
Saumur Blanc “L’Échelier” 2021 is one of the most distinguished Chenin Blanc wines produced by Thierry Germain at Domaine des Roches Neuves, one of the benchmark estates of the Loire Valley. The wine comes from L’Échelier, a remarkable three-hundred-year-old enclosed vineyard overlooking the Loire, where an exceptional terroir allows Chenin Blanc to reach extraordinary levels of finesse and complexity.
The vineyard is rooted in clay-limestone soils covered by a shallow layer of sand before reaching the Upper Turonian limestone bedrock. Farmed according to certified biodynamic principles, the vines benefit from full soil cultivation, natural grass cover and massal selection, preserving both biodiversity and the genetic heritage of the vineyard.
The grapes are harvested entirely by hand before undergoing a gentle four-hour pneumatic pressing. Fermentation takes place slowly in 600-litre oval oak barrels with thick staves, providing delicate oxygen exchange while preserving the purity of the fruit. The wine then matures for nine months on its fine lees in the estate’s cool underground cellars, enhancing texture and complexity without compromising freshness.
Brilliant pale straw in colour, the bouquet reveals ripe citrus, grapefruit, lemon zest, pear and white apple, layered with white flowers, chamomile, aromatic herbs, chalk, toasted almond and subtle flinty notes. The aromatic profile is both expressive and remarkably refined.
The palate is powerful yet perfectly focused, combining generous fruit with vibrant acidity and pronounced minerality. Rich in texture but driven by remarkable tension, it finishes long, saline and exceptionally precise, showcasing the outstanding quality of both Chenin Blanc and the limestone terroir of Saumur.
A wine built for long ageing, L’Échelier 2021 pairs beautifully with scallops, shellfish, creamy fish dishes, grilled sea bream and elegant seafood cuisine, offering one of the finest contemporary expressions of Loire Chenin Blanc.
